Caught Testing: 2014 Porsche 911 GT3 - Spy Shots

Here comes the rest of the 911 range.

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About the only time you'll see a Porsche 911 GT3 trying to play catch-up is when a brand new 911 has just rolled into town. That's the way Porsche works, the company's 911 model gets a total rework and the hottest high-performance models are slowly introduced, months after the standard car has entered production. It's all very logical, and equally frustrating when you're dying to get your hands on a car as sublime as the GT3. Based on past experience, we've no doubt the 2014 Porsche 911 GT3 – set to go on sale next year – will quickly make up for lost time.

Seen here with no disguise, the black prototype caught by our spy photographers definitely looks the über-Porsche part. The front fascia, including larger air intakes and front lip spoiler, is specific to the GT3. At the back, you'll spot a dual exhaust exiting from the center of the rear bumper. There is also the (not so) small matter of the rear wing, which appears to combine Porsche's iconic "ducktail" and "whale-tail" wings into one. The shape and design could change before the GT3 reaches production.

You already know the base 911 comes with a 350-bhp 3.4-liter flat-6 engine, while the latest 911 S has a 400-bhp 3.6-liter flat-6. The last GT3 pushed out 435 bhp, so to keep distance from the outgoing model and the rest of the 911 range, expect the new GT3 to offer an extra 10-15 horsepower. The suspension and braking system will be similarly upgraded to match the more aggressive engine tuning and aero package.

We called the last GT3 "absolutely brilliant" during our Ultimate GT Showdown, held at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. And that was when the road car was pitted against the track-focused GT3 RSR – not exactly a pushover when it comes to high-performance thrills. The next version promises to be even more spectacular. The hardest part will be waiting for it to arrive.